U.S. High School Seniors Recognized in Prestigious Science Competition

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

- Forty high school seniors from across the country were named finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search 2011, a program of Society for Science & the Public.- For the first time ever, California has surpassed New York as the state with the highest number of young innovators in the competition.- Finalists will gather in Washington, D.C. in March to compete for $630,000 in awards with the top winner receiving $100,000 from the Intel Foundation.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 26, 2011 - Forty high school seniors from across the U.S. are celebrating their selection as finalists in the country's oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition, the Intel Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science & the Public (SSP). Finalists, who were announced today, will gather in Washington, D.C. from March 10-15 to compete for $630,000 in awards. The top winner will receive $100,000 from the Intel Foundation. For a list of this year's finalists, visit http://www.societyforscience.org/sts.

"The most pressing issues in society today will be solved by curious youth, like these Intel Science Talent Search competitors," said Shelly Esque, vice president of Intel's Corporate Affairs Group. "It is their passion for math and science that lays the foundation for America's innovation."

Intel has sponsored the Intel Science Talent Search and the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair for 13 and 14 years, respectively. Because Intel views education as the foundation for innovation, over the past decade, Intel and the Intel Foundation have invested more than $1 billion and Intel employees have donated close to 3 million hours toward improving education in more than 60 countries.

Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, has owned and administered the Science Talent Search since its inception in 1942.

"I am especially encouraged this year by the quality and breadth of applications from across the country, from students who are tackling some of the world's most challenging issues," said Elizabeth Marincola, president of SSP. "We congratulate the outstanding finalists in the 70th Science Talent Search and join Intel in welcoming them into the small and prestigious group of alumni finalists who have realized so much success over the past decades."

- For the first time ever, California has surpassed New York as the state with the highest number of young innovators in the competition. California has 11 and New York has seven finalists. This is followed by Texas with three; Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and Pennsylvania with two each; and Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Nebraska with one each.

- This year's finalists' independent research projects include such topics as examining the effect of high levels of glucose on morphine receptors, suggesting that sugar may be addictive; improving pain management for Chinese-American cancer patients through targeted education; using simulated human emotions to change the way people interact with robots; and helping to treat autoimmune diseases with ultraviolet light.

- What's next: Finalists will gather in Washington, D.C. for a week-long event from March 10-15. They will undergo a rigorous judging process, meet with national leaders, interact with leading scientists and display their research at the National Geographic Society. Top winners will be announced at a black-tie gala awards ceremony at the National Building Museum on March 15.